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Burgos demands immediate rematch with Martinez

When his WBO super featherweight title fight against champion Rocky Martinez was judged to be a draw Saturday night at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, the disappointment on the face of Juan Carlos

When his WBO super featherweight title fight against champion Rocky Martinez was judged to be a draw Saturday night at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, the disappointment on the face of Juan Carlos Burgos was obvious.

Burgos, 24, believed he had done enough to win his first world title. He landed 93 more punches than Martinez, according to CompuBox statistics, including 70 more power punches and 23 more jabs. His 36% connect rate was 13% higher than Martinez. More than half of Burgos' landed punches were to the body.

Judge Waleska Roldan scored the fight 117-111 for Burgos. Tony Paolillo scored it 116-112 for Martinez and John Signorile had it 114-114, a draw. Thus, Martinez retained his WBO title.

Monday, Burgos' promoters, Banner Promotions and Thompson Boxing, announced they will seek an immediate rematch with the WBO on Burgos' behalf.

HBO conducted a poll on whether viewers thought Burgos (30-1-1, 20 KOs) should be awarded the title, and 84% believed he should have won the fight.

"Juan Carlos won that fight hands down and this week we will file for an immediate rematch", said Artie Pelullo, CEO of Banner Promotions. "The kid worked hard and should be a world champion this morning. We just hope the WBO agrees with what the whole world saw and does the right thing by granting us this rematch".

Pelullo told USA TODAY Sports he also promised Burgos he would protest the decision on grounds of judging incompetence. "I might be fined for that, but I do believe it was incompetence," Pelullo said. "(Burgos) was crying in the locker room after the fight when he was talking to his parents."

The WBO was also the sanctioning body for the Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley welterweight title decision last June in Las Vegas, in which Bradley was judged to be the winner in a stunning decision.

While the WBO did not reverse the decision, its President, Francisco "Paco" Valcarcel, commissioned a panel of judges to watch the fight, and they unanimously judged that Pacquiao won.